Should Landlords Provide Internet?

Discussion in 'Landlord & Rental Property Questions' started by Rainman, Apr 21, 2015.

  1. Rainman

    Rainman Senior Investor

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    Some landlords do for an extra $50 or so a month. But it comes with some risks. I once heard that a landlord had been threatened with a lawsuit because some of his tenants had been downloading copyrighted material. I don't how that went or whether those issuing the threats actually followed through but it had me thinking, supposing a tenant commits a cyber crime wouldn't that get the landlord in trouble too? Would it be better not to provide internet to tenants?
     
  2. crimsonghost747

    crimsonghost747 Senior Investor

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    I think it depends on the situation. If you are renting out furnished flats for more short term stay etc.. then I think it's great to have internet. But if you are planning on the tenants to stay there for years then they should get their own. That way they can choose who they get it with, how fast they get, blaablaablaa.

    I don't think cybercrimes etc would really hurt the landlord THAT much. The connection would be in his name but it's also linked to an address and of course being a proper landlord you have a rental agreement with said tenant about that address, so it's pretty easy to prove that you are just the landlord and he is the one living there and using the internet. Of course all of that is some administrative trouble but that's it.
     
  3. turt

    turt Guest

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    If they rent to multiple people, I think it's a great way to get people to rent your property. The $60 a month savings is huge!
     
  4. dianethare

    dianethare Senior Investor

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    IMO...absolutely not...such luxuries let me leave them in the hands of celebrities who are renting out their villas and apartments and other landlords who've got bursting accounts with loads of money plus i find such things quite personal and after i install the internet preference, they'll start demanding i give them discounts on television rates e.t.c...what a huge load to carry :(
     
  5. queenbellevue

    queenbellevue Well-Known Member

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    Yeah I agree. If it's just a short term lease then having internet already installed would be a HUGE benefit. However, if it's a long term contract then the tenant should be responsible for it
     
  6. crimsonghost747

    crimsonghost747 Senior Investor

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    Yup, the thing is nowadays most people expect to have internet where ever they are staying. So if the lease is so short that there is no point for them to take their own subscription (a month or two for example) then already having internet will do wonders to attract more tenants.
     
  7. My401K

    My401K Well-Known Member

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    Large complexes offer internet and cable because they can bundle the subscription and get it so much cheaper then an individual can. For a private landlord I really do not see the advantage of offering internet access unless it is a very high end piece of real estate. There are tons of horror stories from utility companies and cable companies of former tenants skpping off on the bill and the new tenant getting told in order to have service they need to pay the prior residents bill. I think this is a bit of baloney from the cable companies that has probably helped push this back to the landlords shoulders. The way you combat this is have it clearly stated in the rental agreement that they are not owners and that they will be responsible for any bills in their names.
     
  8. Hedonologist

    Hedonologist Well-Known Member

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    But then it would be split, and the download rate would probably be abysmal. I think Internet is something that people have a strong preference over, much more than other utilities. As a landlord I wouldn't want to provide it, and as a tenant I wouldn't want it provided either.
     
  9. Flexin

    Flexin Member

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    For normal long term rentals I don't think I would bother unless there was a lot of competition for the same type of rental. For a short term rental and student rentals it could be a great selling feature. But with that being said, students could use a lot of data. My internet doesn't have any set limits. Where my brother lives he said they pay for a certain amount of data like you would with a cell phone. He ended up going over because he bought two games online and downloaded them. So if I was in an area like that I don't think I would offer it. It would be a pain going after then for any overages.

    James
     
  10. Hedonologist

    Hedonologist Well-Known Member

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    I think with students, you would only be able to get away with it if you have fibre broadband, meaning several people could have high speed all at once. It would also prevent potential arguments, and split the cost. I think most older people would still prefer to sort their own internet out. It would need to be unlimited also with shared internet, so there is no dispute about who is responsible for over stretching the limit.
     

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